Chase being fitted with the Animal Planet camera

Recently Helix asked the following question about a Beardie
being fitted with a video camera at the recent AKC National Agility
Championship:

"Animal Planet expected a top competitive dog to wear
a battery pack and camera while in top level competition? Was
this exhibition and I missed the point?"

Leslie Dawson-North's Beardie, Chase, had already finished
competing and was awarded 4th Place in the 20" class when
the Animal Planet crew selected her to be the experimental "pooch
cam". Chase was selected because of her demonstrated agility
ability, and that she was accustomed to having something on her
head (barrette) since she is a hairy dog. Once fitted with the
camera on her head and a VCR in a back pack, Chase was to run
the final course - non-competively - to provide a dog's eye view
of the course for the TV audience. This great idea was enthusiastically
accepted by Leslie and the Animal Planet crew but not by Chase.
She did attempt the tunnel and one jump but it was not Chase's
usual fast, flowing style. The equipment proved to be too bulky
and restrictive so the experiment was abandoned. The Animal Planet
crew were very considerate of Chase. It was a collaborative effort
between Leslie and the crew in determining the safest and most
comfortable way to attach the equipment to Chase. I video taped
the experiment thinking this was a Beardie and dogdom historical
event. Well, not this time. But, maybe someday a 'pooch cam' Beardie
will be taking us through tunnels and chutes and over jumps, seesaws
and A frames while we sit comfortably in our LazyBoys watching
TV.